Analaysis of Kidulthood

sound:

Music used in the film falls in to the genre of grime and hip-hop, attracting the target audience of urbanites who experience similar situations as the characters. The music used is produced by urban artists such as ‘Dizzee Rascal’, ’Lethal Bizzle’.

The mise-en-scene clearly indicates the genre of the film through the different types of urban settings and also helps to define the target audience; the characters are predominantly teenage. The clothes the characters wear also signify social status- Sam does not wear a uniform, as he is older , but his clothes also signify that he is ‘different’ from the others and helps to establish him as the ‘villain’ which is outcasted away from the other characters . He also wears a hoodie, clothing which has connotations of anti-social behaviour this creates the sense he prefers to hide his identityand prefers to illusrate more of a dominant  intimate personality through his actions.

The clothing worn by the actors is street wear commonly worn by the average teenager living in London. Teenagers can identify with the clothing and understand the ideology underpinning the text. Examples of clothing include hoodies, caps, trainers and jewellery. The settings in the film reflect the realities of inner city life: council estates, shopping arcades, public transport. Much of the action takes place on the streets and may give the text authenticity and believability. 

Class- conflict between the working and middle classes. The film begins with a middle-class schoolgirl being bullied by working-class pupils. This contravenes the ruling class ideology, as the working-class are represented as having the power. Throughout the film, the characters are going against the values of society, They do this by having underage sex, taking drugs, and committing criminal offences. Trife, Jay and Mooney are falsely accused of stealing by a white security guard- here, the ‘white ruling class’ is seen as wielding the power. And we also wittness the stereotypical view upon the young black generation.

throughout the opening sequence of Kidulthood we gather the understanding of binary opposition

Middle class vs. working class

Authority vs. anarchy

White vs. black

Age vs. youth